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Ghisoni E, Morotti M, Sarivalasis A, Grimm AJ, Kandalaft L, Laniti DD, Coukos G. Immunotherapy for ovarian cancer: towards a tailored immunophenotype-based approach. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2024:10.1038/s41571-024-00937-4. [PMID: 39232212 DOI: 10.1038/s41571-024-00937-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/12/2024] [Indexed: 09/06/2024]
Abstract
Despite documented evidence that ovarian cancer cells express immune-checkpoint molecules, such as PD-1 and PD-L1, and of a positive correlation between the presence of tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes and favourable overall survival outcomes in patients with this tumour type, the results of trials testing immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in these patients thus far have been disappointing. The lack of response to ICIs can be attributed to tumour heterogeneity as well as inherent or acquired resistance associated with the tumour microenvironment (TME). Understanding tumour immunobiology, discovering biomarkers for patient selection and establishing optimal treatment combinations remains the hope but also a key challenge for the future application of immunotherapy in ovarian cancer. In this Review, we summarize results from trials testing ICIs in patients with ovarian cancer. We propose the implementation of a systematic CD8+ T cell-based immunophenotypic classification of this malignancy, followed by discussions of the preclinical data providing the basis to treat such immunophenotypes with combination immunotherapies. We posit that the integration of an accurate TME immunophenotype characterization with genetic data can enable the design of tailored therapeutic approaches and improve patient recruitment in clinical trials. Lastly, we propose a roadmap incorporating tissue-based profiling to guide future trials testing adoptive cell therapy approaches and assess novel immunotherapy combinations while promoting collaborative research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Ghisoni
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch, University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- Agora Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Matteo Morotti
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch, University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- Agora Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Apostolos Sarivalasis
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Alizée J Grimm
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch, University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- Agora Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Lana Kandalaft
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch, University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- Center of Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Denarda Dangaj Laniti
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch, University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- Agora Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - George Coukos
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne Branch, University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland.
- Agora Cancer Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland.
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Roberts M, Finn J, Lass M, Oviedo-Bermudez E, Kurt RA. Efficacy of IFN-γ, sCD40L, and Poly(I:C) Treated Bone Marrow-Derived Macrophages in Murine Mammary Carcinoma. Immunol Invest 2024; 53:857-871. [PMID: 38813886 DOI: 10.1080/08820139.2024.2354264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Here, we explored methods to generate anti-tumor bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM) and how delivery of the BMDM at early tumor sites could impact disease progression. METHODS BMDM treated with IFN-γ, sCD40L, poly(I:C), and a combination of the three were assessed. RESULTS Treatment with sCD40L had no significant impact on the BMDM. Treating BMDM with IFN-γ impacted IL-1β, MHC Class II, and CD80 expression. While poly(I:C) treatment had a greater impact on the BMDM than IFN-γ when assessed by the in vitro assays, the BMDM treated with poly (I:C) had mixed results in vivo where they decreased growth of the EMT6 tumor, did not impact growth of the 168 tumor, and enhanced growth of the 4T1 tumor. The combination of poly(I:C), IFN-γ, and sCD40L had the greatest impact on the BMDM in vitro and in vivo. Treatment with all three agonists resulted in increased IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-12 expression, decreased expression of arginase and mrc, increased phagocytic activity, nitrite production, and MHC Class II and CD80 expression, and significantly impacted growth of the EMT6 and 168 murine mammary carcinoma models. DISCUSSION Collectively, these data show that treating BMDM with poly(I:C), IFN-γ, and sCD40L generates BMDM with more consistent anti-tumor activity than BMDM generated with the individual agonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghan Roberts
- Department of Biology, Lafayette College, Easton, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Joshua Finn
- Department of Biology, Lafayette College, Easton, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Melissa Lass
- Department of Biology, Lafayette College, Easton, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | - Robert A Kurt
- Department of Biology, Lafayette College, Easton, Pennsylvania, USA
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Pazoki A, Dadfar S, Shadab A, Haghmorad D, Oksenych V. Soluble CD40 Ligand as a Promising Biomarker in Cancer Diagnosis. Cells 2024; 13:1267. [PMID: 39120299 PMCID: PMC11311304 DOI: 10.3390/cells13151267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2024] [Revised: 07/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/26/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer remains a significant challenge in medicine due to its complexity and heterogeneity. Biomarkers have emerged as vital tools for cancer research and clinical practice, facilitating early detection, prognosis assessment, and treatment monitoring. Among these, CD40 ligand (CD40L) has gained attention for its role in immune response modulation. Soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) has shown promise as a potential biomarker in cancer diagnosis and progression, reflecting interactions between immune cells and the tumor microenvironment. This review explores the intricate relationship between sCD40L and cancer, highlighting its diagnostic and prognostic potential. It discusses biomarker discovery, emphasizing the need for reliable markers in oncology, and elucidates the roles of CD40L in inflammatory responses and interactions with tumor cells. Additionally, it examines sCD40L as a biomarker, detailing its significance across various cancer types and clinical applications. Moreover, the review focuses on therapeutic interventions targeting CD40L in malignancies, providing insights into cellular and gene therapy approaches and recombinant protein-based strategies. The clinical effectiveness of CD40L-targeted therapy is evaluated, underscoring the need for further research to unlock the full potential of this signaling pathway in cancer management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alireza Pazoki
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan 35147-99442, Iran
| | - Sepehr Dadfar
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan 35147-99442, Iran
| | - Alireza Shadab
- Department of Health Science, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 14496-14535, Iran
| | - Dariush Haghmorad
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan 35147-99442, Iran
- Cancer Research Center, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan 35147-99442, Iran
| | - Valentyn Oksenych
- Broegelmann Research Laboratory, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, 5020 Bergen, Norway
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Kemp F, Braverman EL, Byersdorfer CA. Fatty acid oxidation in immune function. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1420336. [PMID: 39007133 PMCID: PMC11240245 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1420336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Cellular metabolism is a crucial determinant of immune cell fate and function. Extensive studies have demonstrated that metabolic decisions influence immune cell activation, differentiation, and cellular capacity, in the process impacting an organism's ability to stave off infection or recover from injury. Conversely, metabolic dysregulation can contribute to the severity of multiple disease conditions including autoimmunity, alloimmunity, and cancer. Emerging data also demonstrate that metabolic cues and profiles can influence the success or failure of adoptive cellular therapies. Importantly, immunometabolism is not one size fits all; and different immune cell types, and even subdivisions within distinct cell populations utilize different metabolic pathways to optimize function. Metabolic preference can also change depending on the microenvironment in which cells are activated. For this reason, understanding the metabolic requirements of different subsets of immune cells is critical to therapeutically modulating different disease states or maximizing cellular function for downstream applications. Fatty acid oxidation (FAO), in particular, plays multiple roles in immune cells, providing both pro- and anti-inflammatory effects. Herein, we review the major metabolic pathways available to immune cells, then focus more closely on the role of FAO in different immune cell subsets. Understanding how and why FAO is utilized by different immune cells will allow for the design of optimal therapeutic interventions targeting this pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Craig A. Byersdorfer
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Blood and Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapies, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
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Heidarnejad F, Namvar A, Sadat SM, Pordanjani PM, Rezaei F, Namdari H, Arjmand S, Bolhassani A. In silico designing of novel epitope-based peptide vaccines against HIV-1. Biotechnol Lett 2024; 46:315-354. [PMID: 38403788 DOI: 10.1007/s10529-023-03464-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
The HIV-1 virus has been regarded as a catastrophe for human well-being. The global incidence of HIV-1-infected individuals is increasing. Hence, development of effective immunostimulatory molecules has recently attracted an increasing attention in the field of vaccine design against HIV-1 infection. In this study, we explored the impacts of CD40L and IFN-γ as immunostimulatory adjuvants for our candidate HIV-1 Nef vaccine in human and mouse using immunoinformatics analyses. Overall, 18 IFN-γ-based vaccine constructs (9 constructs in human and 9 constructs in mouse), and 18 CD40L-based vaccine constructs (9 constructs in human and 9 constructs in mouse) were designed. To find immunogenic epitopes, important characteristics of each component (e.g., MHC-I and MHC-II binding, and peptide-MHC-I/MHC-II molecular docking) were determined. Then, the selected epitopes were applied to create multiepitope constructs. Finally, the physicochemical properties, linear and discontinuous B cell epitopes, and molecular interaction between the 3D structure of each construct and CD40, IFN-γ receptor or toll-like receptors (TLRs) were predicted. Our data showed that the full-length CD40L and IFN-γ linked to the N-terminal region of Nef were capable of inducing more effective immune response than multiepitope vaccine constructs. Moreover, molecular docking of the non-allergenic full-length- and epitope-based CD40L and IFN-γ constructs to their cognate receptors, CD40 and IFN-γ receptors, and TLRs 4 and 5 in mouse were more potent than in human. Generally, these findings suggest that the full forms of these adjuvants could be more efficient for improvement of HIV-1 Nef vaccine candidate compared to the designed multiepitope-based constructs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ali Namvar
- Iranian Comprehensive Hemophilia Care Center, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyed Mehdi Sadat
- Department of Hepatitis and AIDS, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Fatemeh Rezaei
- Department of Hepatitis and AIDS, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Haideh Namdari
- Iranian Tissue Bank Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sina Arjmand
- Department of Hepatitis and AIDS, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Azam Bolhassani
- Department of Hepatitis and AIDS, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
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Zhou Y, Richmond A, Yan C. Harnessing the potential of CD40 agonism in cancer therapy. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev 2024; 75:40-56. [PMID: 38102001 PMCID: PMC10922420 DOI: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2023.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
CD40 is a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor superfamily of receptors expressed on a variety of cell types. The CD40-CD40L interaction gives rise to many immune events, including the licensing of dendritic cells to activate CD8+ effector T cells, as well as the facilitation of B cell activation, proliferation, and differentiation. In malignant cells, the expression of CD40 varies among cancer types, mediating cellular proliferation, apoptosis, survival and the secretion of cytokines and chemokines. Agonistic human anti-CD40 antibodies are emerging as an option for cancer treatment, and early-phase clinical trials explored its monotherapy or combination with radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immune checkpoint blockade, and other immunomodulatory approaches. In this review, we present the current understanding of the mechanism of action for CD40, along with results from the clinical development of agonistic human CD40 antibodies in cancer treatment (selicrelumab, CDX-1140, APX005M, mitazalimab, 2141-V11, SEA-CD40, LVGN7409, and bispecific antibodies). This review also examines the safety profile of CD40 agonists in both preclinical and clinical settings, highlighting optimized dosage levels, potential adverse effects, and strategies to mitigate them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Zhou
- Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Department of Veteran Affairs, Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Ann Richmond
- Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Department of Veteran Affairs, Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Chi Yan
- Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Department of Veteran Affairs, Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Nashville, TN, USA.
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Lu C, Liu Y, Miao L, Kong X, Li H, Chen H, Zhao X, Zhang B, Cui X. Research progress on the role of tumor‑associated macrophages in tumor development and their use as molecular targets (Review). Int J Oncol 2024; 64:11. [PMID: 38063203 PMCID: PMC10734668 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2023.5599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a complex system composed mainly of tumor cells, mesenchymal cells and immune cells. Macrophages, also known as tumor‑associated macrophages (TAMs), among innate immune cells, are some of the most abundant components of the TME. They may influence tumor growth and metastasis through interactions with other cell populations in the TME and have been associated with poor prognosis in a variety of tumors. Therefore, a better understanding of the role of TAMs in the TME may provide new insight into tumor therapy. In the present review, the origin and classification of TAMs in the TME were outlined and their polarization and dual effects on tumor cells, as well as emerging strategies for cancer therapies targeting TAMs, were discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenglin Lu
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning 860411, P.R. China
| | - Ying Liu
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning 860411, P.R. China
- Department of Oncology, Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Dalian University, Dalian, Liaoning 860411, P.R. China
| | - Linxuan Miao
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning 860411, P.R. China
| | - Xiangle Kong
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning 860411, P.R. China
| | - Huili Li
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning 860411, P.R. China
| | - Haoran Chen
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning 860411, P.R. China
| | - Xu Zhao
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning 860411, P.R. China
| | - Bin Zhang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning 860411, P.R. China
| | - Xiaonan Cui
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning 860411, P.R. China
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